60 The Wilson Bulletin.— No. 43. 



ALL DAY WITH THE BIRDS. 



LYNDS JONES. 

 MAY 1 6 AT OBERLIN, OHIO. 



On account of the capriciousness of the weather two at- 

 tempts were made to secure the largest horizon for the sea- 

 son. The first on May 14th by the writer alone, with three 

 hours in the afternoon cut out, with a record of 102 spe- 

 cies (just equalling our first "all day" record); the second on 

 May 1 6th, Mr. W. L Dawson and the writer, with a record 

 of 109 species. The time occupied was from 3:30 a. m. to 

 8:00 p. m. The day began with a temperature of 44° and 

 foggy near the ground, the fog lifting at 7 a. m., making 

 work with the warblers which feed in the foliage of the tree- 

 tops almost impossible. At 6:00 o'clock only 67 species 

 had been recorded, as against 90 at the same hour last year. 



The distance to Oak Point, on Lake Erie, was made 

 a-wheel, enabling us to visit some especially favorable places 

 on the way there and back, and to spend some time in the 

 evening twilight where the owls live. The sequel seems to 

 clearly show that the overland trip by trolley is wasted time. 



Two surprises in the lake shore swamps awaited us. One 

 was in the form ot a compan)^ of shore birds on the mud- 

 flats, which included three species never before taken so 

 late in the season; the other our inability to start the Long- 

 billed Marsh Wren and Sora from their reedy retreats. 

 There were other disappointments, as there always are. 

 While the list of species observed is smaller than the larg- 

 est, we feel satisfied with the day's work. The season was 

 not such as to hold the birds during their northward move- 

 ment. 



It will be remembered that the first "All Day" occurred 

 on May 17, 1898, 102 species; the second on May 8, 1899, 

 112 species; the third on May 19, 1900, 100 species; the 

 fourth on May 9, 1 90 1, 109 species; the fifth on May 7, 

 1902, 113 species, and the sixth on May 16, 1903, 109 spe- 



